Dominican influencer Danny Pérez has cancelled his Miami reality show La Prisión de Destino 2 after one week following mass reports to US immigration.
The producer, known online as Destino Positivo, abruptly halted live broadcasts from the Media Pro studio facility to protect foreign cast members including Peruvian television figures Samahara Lobatón and her former partner Youna.
Pérez addressed the decision in a video published on his YouTube channel, clarifying that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had not raided the studio set or detained contestants as rumoured on social media.
Immigration complaints and set closure
Federal authorities were dispatched toward the filming location after receiving thousands of anonymous online complaints alleging that undocumented individuals were participating in the reality competition. However, Pérez stated that immigration officers never reached the premises because he made the call to shut down the broadcast first.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly abbreviated as ICE, is the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration and border laws within the United States. The show was being recorded in Miami, Florida, which serves as a central production hub for international Spanish language broadcasting.
Pérez explained that none of the contestants were living in the United States illegally, though several were currently undergoing official immigration evaluations. Participants held legal statuses including humanitarian parole, asylum applications, and pending administrative paperwork.
Financial losses and production risks
The producer revealed that he chose to sacrifice between $300,000 and $400,000 in production costs to ensure no participant suffered legal complications with their ongoing applications. He added that he would have felt terrible if any contestant had been led out of the studio in handcuffs and detained in prison for 90 days.
Addressing those who submitted complaints against the show, Pérez said the emotional distress caused him to inform his wife that he could no longer maintain the operation. He expressed hope that those who targeted the project felt satisfied with the outcome, adding that he held no personal hatred or grudge toward them.
Pérez stressed that he has no fear of legal proceedings because he operates lawfully as a legal resident. He noted that Media Pro, a major international audiovisual facilities provider, could not risk legal conflicts or potential lawsuits arising from high-profile operational disputes.
On set controversies and cast history
The abrupt cancellation caps a turbulent week for the reality show, which had already generated public debate over incidents involving its international cast. During one live broadcast, Lobatón was physically assaulted by a castmate who shouted at her to let go, while fellow contestant Diego Chávarri faced sharp public criticism after making inappropriate remarks about her body.
Lobatón, a prominent figure in Peruvian entertainment news, is the daughter of television personality Melissa Klug. Prior to joining the Miami production, Lobatón sparked headlines by exposing that contestant Shirley Arica had failed to share prize money from the Peruvian reality show La Granja VIP Perú despite a prior agreement between them.
Future projects and betrayal claims
Despite the abrupt end of the series, Pérez announced that he intends to return to the entertainment industry with stronger projects, stating that he embraces setbacks as opportunities to rebuild. He added that the experience taught him to be more cautious when selecting his circle, hinting that one or more individuals had betrayed him during the production.
